New Beauty And The Beast Movie Focuses On Belle, Watch It Here

Disney has released a new featurette for its soon-to-arrive live-action Beauty and the Beast. This newest video is titled "Empowered Belle," and it features actress Emma Watson, as well as director Bill Condon, Beast actor Dan Stevens, and others talking about Belle and why her character is unique.

"She really is the first modern Disney princess who doesn't want to be a princess," Condon said. "Someone who is more interested in figuring out who she is than in finding a guy and getting married."

Watson added that Beauty and the Beast was a big part of her childhood, so it was important for her to do the character justice.

"Belle really dominated and characterized a huge part of my childhood and my growing up," she said. "I know what she meant to me as a young girl. When you love something that much, you really want to do it justice."

LeFou actor Josh Gad said, "Emma as Belle empowers a whole new generation of girls."

Watson's Belle may not be exactly as you remember her from the 1991 animated original. For the live-action remake, she is more "industrious and inventive." This was part of an effort to ensure that Belle is seen as a "21st century heroine," according to Condon.

Beauty and the Beast opens on March 17. It also stars Ian McKellan as Cogsworth, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, and Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, a character not seen in the 1991 animated movie and invented for the new version. The film is directed by Twilight's Bill Condon.

It is expected to have a huge opening in the US, where it could make as much as $120 million for its opening weekend, according to estimates. If it can cross $100 million, that would make it one of the biggest March openings in movie history.

A number of new clips have been released in recent days and weeks:

• New Beauty And The Beast Clip Show Off A Famous Song
• Watch Emma Watson Sing A Famous Beauty And The Beast Song In New Movie Clip
• New Beauty And The Beast Clip Shows Beast Inviting Belle To Dinner